'Esa "Flies" to Kuopio'
Lentävä kalakukko (Esa "flyger" till Kuopio)
Le train express pour Kuopio (French title)
Im "Fluge" nach Kuopio (German title)

Finland 1953 B/W 68min Fennada-Filmi

**½

Musical

cast: Esa Pakarinen (Samuli Saastamoinen), Masa Niemi (Leevi), Mai-Brit Heljo (Molly), Siiri Angerkoski (Jenni), Kullervo Kalske (Yrjö), Armas Jokio (Aleksi), Ville Salminen (Vilho Rörtkö/Whisky-Ville), Matti Aulos, Leo Lähteenmäki (Ramperi/Saastamoinen), Matti Kassila
credits: dir. Ville Salminen (also staging), prod. T.J. Särkkä, script Reino Helismaa, music Toivo Kärki

In the original name, kalakukko ("fish cockerel") is a straight translation of a name of one Finnish food: a bread, fish and bacon baked in it. Here it means a train. Possibly, because the train is full of everything "interesting"...

Esa Pakarinen is a conductor who sings with the passengers. He was a very original person. One can not describe him. A tall, thin singing troll would be closest image of him. If you want know more, you'll better see the movie.

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